TUT Materials Day Brings Industry and Learning Together

In conjunction with Materials Day at the Faculty of Arts and Design, the Department of Interior Design invited nine manufacturers to the Arts Campus to discover future trends, skills demand and suitable preparation for students.

A concept for this year’s event was devised by lecturer Rochelle Scheepers, who organized it, “for TUT Arts Festival, when students successfully engaged in a similar way with the design community.”

TUT Materials Day Brings Industry and Learning Together

A collaboration between the Department and AutoSpec, a search engine for architects, quantity surveyors, interior designers, and homeowners seeking just the right products for their particular design needs, was held at the event.

The initiative allows students to meet their future employers and interact informally with the industry, which allows them to complete their practical projects with manufacturers.

Additionally, she explained that a Materials Day provides students with a chance to interact directly with industry since the Materials component has been discontinued in the Interior Design curriculum.

A number of industry members were represented, including Eva last, Dulux, Hansgrohe, Eurolux, PG Bison, Max on Top, Duravit, Polyflor, and St Gobain.

During Materials Day, Tshego Ndlovu from AutoSpec explained the importance of industry and higher education collaborating more closely: “Materials Day is such a great platform for introducing students to different manufacturers that operate within the industry.” Students get to touch and see products from participating manufacturers, gain extensive knowledge about all products available from manufacturers, and take home goodies and info packs! With the profound AutoSpec platform, students are able to write specifications for the products of these manufacturers throughout their careers.”

The opportunity was equally exciting for the students.

During these events, Siphesihle Zulu, a second-year Interior Design student, can educate himself and his clients about the products used in his or her own spaces ”.

Only available at TUT, this three-year Diploma in Interior Design will train graduates to use design concepts to professionally plan, design, furnish, and equip residential, retail, and commercial interior spaces. The course provides students with knowledge of computer-aided design, graphic design methods, interior lighting, acoustics, systems integration, colour harmony, historical interior design, and period styles. Among the courses offered are Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters, and Doctoral degrees.

Besides furniture design, technical working drawings and drafts, structural design, and building codes and inspection regulations, the course content includes training in furniture design, technical drawing and drafting, and structural design. The Work-Integrated Learning programme allows students to work at interior design companies in their local area. Entrepreneurship is possible as a small business owner or freelance designer, consultant, drafter or renderer if the focus is the right one.

Material day is a new tradition for the Interior Design Department, Scheepers said. As part of the 2023 Arts Festival in September, the Department hopes to go even bigger and better with its Materials Day event. All design institutions are invited to participate in the Materials Day and networking will be facilitated.”